Typewriting machine



March 5, 1946.

H; C. YAEGER TYPEWRITING .I'MACHINE Filed June 28, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1gINVENTOR all/z /Z/4e e2 e9 j ATTORNEY mm, 146. a

H. c. YAEGER TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed June 2 8, 1944' s sheets-sheet 2w 1 a I '.A M O w March 5, 194% H. c. YAEQER I 2,395,929

TYPEWRITING- MACHINE Filed June 2 8, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet3 Patented Mar.5, 1946 UNITED STATES TFYPEWRITING liarfyp. Ya"e*er,West Hartford,ifiifin, ossisne to Unaware This invention relates to typewritmemachines and more particularly to the machines commonly referred to asfan-fold or continuous billingmaehines, wherein carbon sheetsaresupported in interleaved relation between superposed con tinuous webs orplies of a ianfolde'd web,- and are shifted therealong for registrationwith sue ceeding web-portions or forms;

Such machines embody usually a part or parts whieh for registeringsucceeding web portions or forms with the carbon sheets are temporarilydisplaced from an out-of wa-y to a iorwa'rdlx extended position.Therefore, if a machine of this type is equipped with a devicefor-moving or returning the carriage by power,- the operator is exposedto a dangerous condition in that apower returnm ay be instituted whilesaid part or parts are ex-tended; any event, an operator musthe onconstant guard to avoid accident, which is tiresome and detrimental toefficiency.

It is a generalobiect of the invention to pro vide in association withmachines falling in "the aforesaid category, "simple and efiicientsafety ='de= vices to render the machine only capable 01 power drivencarriage movement when and while said extendable, carriage supportedp'artorpartsare in normal position; that is,- unextended.

Another object is to prevent movement of said part or parts to extendedpositions whenever the carriage is being power moved.

Other objects and features will "be in part obvious and in .part pointedout partic-ularly, as the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention proceeds;

The invention is illustrated and described-in association with afanfoldbilling machine "of the type disclosed in the vpatent to Wernery andSmith No. 1,13230555ldfib6d; March 16; 1915; the machine hav-ing furtherbeen "equipped with a combined power carriage return and line-space ingmeans disclosed in the patent to Helmond No. 2,262,676, dated- November11, 1941-.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a fractional side elevation ofan upper portion of a billing machine with parts of the inventionassociated therewith.

Figure '2 is a front perspective view of some parts of the carriagereturn control mechanism disclosed in said patent to Helmond, togetherwith a portion of a mechanism assooiated therewith for incapacitatingthe carriage return mechanism. c

Figure 3 is a-rear elevation of the machine with portions thereei-broken-away,- -andillustrates mainly the combined line=spacingand ear-'ria ge return mechanism of said patent to fielmond, in normal,ineffective condition, together with a .pai-t "offer mechanism torincapacitating the return-mechanism.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation showing the combined carriage return andline-spacing mechanism. seen Figure 3 more skeletonized and tripped, butineffeeti-vely as regards to carriage returning; M A

Figure 5 is a iront perspectlve view ofga billingmachine'carriage-andthe mechanism oi the inventionwhereby power-returnsof the carriage are caused to Toe -suppressed undertheaiorestatedcondition I U Figure 6 is "a skeleton side viewillustratingthe platen frame in a displaced-position; and show: ingfurther the mechanism wherehythe displacement of the;platen-:ineapaoitates' the power, re turning mechanism for the carriage.t H

Referring now more particularly tov the side view of i, the billingmachinesnqwn oniprises a carriage l 0 upon airame generallydesignated'by the numeral Hi .ai riageciiicludes arai l it which,through the edium of anti, friction elements guided to travel 'iipofi atraclway [5. From their'a'il l3 there rises at each opposite efid pf't'hcariiaea carnage end 15. In the sbace betwee the yardage ends n issituated a. displacealol platen 'fraifie fI'l cGm sis ting of twoendepla es 'l'8 spanned lengthwise of the oarriag' by' a." per table 20,well as also b a bridge 2L see Figure 6 for the latter. Saidciisplaceabie platen frame It supports" apiaten "22 which by of a pistonone :3 isjrotataiiiy moofited upon the opposite end-pistes T8,

- earri'ae'e ends It have tosses 24 supportin inwardl -y reachingstuasjzt wherein theendplates I8 and; therefore, the platen framepivots, for award ana'iorwara displacement from the position seen inFigure 1 to the position of Figaro 6. At the rearof the-platen 22',engaging n6rinal1y'"ins'2t' reaching inwardly from the oppositsend-pistes iii, there aretwo spaced latch arms 21 'Which normal-1yl'o'ckthe entire platen frame 11 "down at "the rear in arm contact withspaced 28 on a-ro'c'ig shaft so; that extends lon itudinally "of thepiaten and whereon said 'i'at'ich arms are secured; the latter havingeach a hilt at pinned to the shaft. Preferably tne-iatch arms are.formed withlatching edges; 2* designed to the dispiaoeabie oiaten'rramedownwarmy into firm eon-tact iivith saidcfollars' is, the entirelatching enact-l re 21.afiasnfneingursed in antirier 36 which incorrespondence with said patentto Wernery and Smith may have blades 31for supporting transfer sheets 39, the blades 31 ex y tending fromopposite lateral ends of the carrier between the superposed work-webs 38or the,

plies of the fanfold web. Said shelf 35 and the carrier partakein theletter-feed and return movements of the carriage, and for this purpose,

each carriage end 15 has a rearwardly reaching bracket or extensionwhereto said shelf 35 is attached through the medium of a rod 4!, seeFigure 5. 'At the rear the shelf or table 35 may be supported to travelupon a rail,'in the manner disclosed in the said patent to Wernery andith.

The work-webs orplies 38 are supplied from the 'rear of-the machine, andextend normally with the carbon sheets interleafed therebetween from thecarbon carrier forwardly and downwardly around the bottom to the frontside of the platen, where the plies rest normally rearwardly. At theoutset of typing each bill, the leading edges of the work-webs aredisposed a short distance above a level indicated by a type 42 where thetypes are adoptedfto print, *see Figure 5. In'the course of typingeachbillthe platen is usually line spaced several times to-advance theweb with the interleafed carbons. From time to time, usually inpreparation for typing succeeding 'bills,- the transfer sheets 39 areshifted relatively to'the webs intoregistration with succeedingbill-forms to be typed. This is preferably done with the web in astraightened out position so that the webs or plies will not bind thecarbons. In the embodiment of the in vention shown, the above is madepossible by mounting the platen supporting frame 'l'l'displaceably forupward and forward movement to the position seen in Figure 6. Insaidposition,[as is well known, the webs or plies 38 are drawn forwardly tothe extent defined by a leading-edge paper-gage 43- and the transfersheets or carbons 39 are retracted a measured distance by retraction orshift of the carbon car- 'rierf36 rearwardly toa predetermined position.The positionof the carbons 39 with respect to the webs38 is then suchthat upon restoration latch arm 21.

L latches.

end a cam arm 46 fast thereon and adopted to act upon a pin 41 providedupon the left latch arm 21, see Figure 5. It is thus evident that whenthe gage bar 44 is swung slightly forward, the said cam arm 46 willforce the pin 41, and consequently both latches 2'! rearwardly about theaxis of the shaft, and that the platen frame His then free for upwarddisplacement through continued forward motion given to the gage bar 44,it being understood that the gage bar, due

to its limited capacity for movement upon the platen frame will pick upthe latter.

' The final displaced position of the frame H and the .gage'bar 44 isestablished by a device comprising a stop arm 43 which in the positionof the platen frame seen in Figure 6 abuts the top side of a flange andwhich has a throwlimitin link connection 5| with the platen frame.

' Said stop arm 48 is pivoted upon the latch carrying shaft 35 and thecomposite stopping linkage 4S, 5! folds as seen in Figure 1 when theplaten frame is restored to normal position. v

For a purpose which will become evident later, the latches 21 are alwaysheld in released position when the platen frame does not occupy thenormal position. It has been said that upon initial forward displacementof the gage bar 44, the latches 21 are swung'rearwardly and that theplaten frame with the pins 26 thereon is then free for upward movement.During the initial displacement of the platen frame the cam arm 46 movesclear of the pin 41, but the pins 25 glide upwardly along front faces 52of the latch arms 21, preventing therewhile restoration of theFurthermore, before the pins 25 leave said faces 52, a dog 53, pivotedas 'at 49 to the right carriage end, swings upwardly in front of a nose54 constituting part of the right-hand Said dog has a lateral ear bymeans of which it cooperates with said nose and said ear, seeparticularly Figure 1, normally underlies the link 5| of the platendisplacement limiting device. Referring to Figure 1, it will be seenthat said link 51 holds said dog normally l below the nose 54 so thatthe latch arms are not restricted thereby against forward movement.However, as the device 5i, 4B unfolds to the position of Figure 6, thelink 5| rises upwardly and frees the dog 53 for movement to theillustrated of the platen frame H to the normal position the succeedingform is in position for typing with the carbons in registrationtherewith. According to the embodiment of the invention shown, said gage43 lsfastened for adjustment along a gage bar 44 which normally extendsfrom the back of said paper table l3, upwardly and rearwardly.

The gage car 44, together with the gage 43, is

thus normally in and out-of-way position, but

becomes extended incidental to the displacement of the platen supportingframe I! to the posi tion of Figure 6. k

In order conveniently to unlatch the platen frame I! and to displace itthereafter, all in a singlesweeping motion, the gage bar is fastened ona rod 45 which is mounted and extends longitudinally of the platen framefor limited forward ure 5, the shaft 45 having near the left carriagerocking movement from the position seen in Figposition under detentionof a spring 56. It is to be observed that movement of the dog 53 toeffective position occurs substantially at the very outset of thedisplacement of the platen frame H 'and prior to the time the pins 26leave said front faces 52. Also to be noted is that with the latches 21in released position the front faces 52 thereof are substantially clearof the orbit of the pins 26. The dog 53 is limited in its motion byengagement of an arm integral therewith, with a front face on the flange50. During the restoration of the platen frame IT to normal position,the pins 26 thereon pass freely down along the front faces 52 of thesaid latches, and, as the platen frame nears normal position, the link5| casts off said dog from the nose 54, the result being that the camfaces 32 of the latch arms will finally swing over'the, pins 25 underthe tension of the spring 33.

The platen is rotatable Within the displaceable frame I! by knobs 55,one at each end of the carriage, the knobs being .provided on stubshafts 55 journaled in the opposite carriage ends it, and said stubshafts having each a gear 62 fast thereon and laterally neighboringanother gear 68, the latter being fast on the adjacent and link end I II I the displaceable platen frame H3 passing into a slot of a link- IIlwhich has a pivotal connection withthe counterstoparm 60. Normally thecounterstop 6| is in the position seen in Figure, 3, and is thusreceptive of a movement in the direction of carriage advance, within,the perforation 63. Upon release of the clutch closing lever 92the'toggle I08, III) folds idly upwardly from the position seen inFigure 3, to a position in which a nose H8 on the toggle link IIIIdirectly underlies an edge II1 of a spring-restored control bar IIBwhich is guided upon the carriage, as at H9 for diagonal movementdownwardly, the .counterstop 6i remaining meanwhile still in normalposition under the tension of the spring 66. Closure of the clutch, ashas been stated hereinbefore, results first in the actuation of the linespacing mechanism, through a limited extent of rotation imparted to thepulley M. The pulley BI has a pin II which gives, at the conclusion ofthe line spacing operation, a downward, diagonal movement to thecontrol. member IIG so that the edge II1, which it-will be seen isco-extensive with the length of the carriage, will give the toggle amore straightened position, this having the effect to displace thecounterstop leftwardly of. Figure 3 within the limits of the opening 63,the toggle being then moving well outside of the housing 54. Thecondition then prevailing is such that when the counterstop BI isdisplaced by the return limiting margin" stop 59, the toggle H8, II}!will be effective to transmit to the lever 92 a clutch opening movement.If the carriagejs in returned position and the clutch controlling lever92 is then released by operation of V the latch .95, there will ensueonly a line spacing operation. This is because the counterstop BI insuch an event is'in the position ,of Figure 3, so that the actuation ofthe .control bar I I6 will straighten the toggle I08, I III and willrestore the lever 92 to normal, open clutch position.

. According to the invention it: is desired to eliminate power movementsof the carriage. at all times when the platen is displaced, that is whenthe gage bar 44 is extended. The mechanism foraccomplishing this willnow be described.

As best seen in Figure 5, both latch arms 21 for I1 have. integraltherewith downwardly extending arms I20. These arms, by means of linksI2I, are operatively connected, at opposite ends of the carriage,

to levers I22 of a bail structure I25 which includes a rod I23 extendingparallel to the carriag and being co-extensive therewith. Said bail I25is pivoted upon studs I24 reaching toward each other from the brackets42 of the carr age. Movement of the latch arms 21 rearwardly at theoutset of the platen displacing operation results in a pivotaldisplacement of the bail I25 from the position seen in Figure l to theposition seen in Figure 6, the rod I23 being moving rearwardlv duringsuch displacement. Contiguous to the left sideof the housing 64 there ispivoted on a headed stud I26, a bel1 crank I21 comprising a forwardlyreaching arm I28 and a rearwardly reaching arm I29; the former having avertical portion normally situated just clear of the toggle link endIII, andthe latter having a vertical edgeslightly behind the bail barI23. The bell crank I21 occupies'nor'mally the position best seen, inFigure 1, under thetension of a spring vldedfin the housing. Said link IIII has 2; pin

rod I23 is consequently moved to the rear as seen in Figure 6, the bellcrank I21 a a result becomes rocked-rearwardly by said rod I23, so thatthe vertical portion of the bell crank arm I29 blocks the toggle linkIIO against outward displacement from the housing 64. Should the lever92 then be tripped to closed clutch position, as by operation of thecarriage return key 98, the toggle I 68, I II] will fold upwardly asillustrated in Figure 4. Obviusly outward displacement of'the togglelink I I0 being blocked by the bell crank arm I29, the descent of thecontrol member .I I6, incidental to the line spacing operation, has thena straightening influence on the toggle to impart a clutch openingmovement to the lever 92. .The carriage meanwhile has remainedstationary inasmuch as the control member I I6 moves against very littleresistance and inasmuch as the carriage is resisted more stronglyagainst movement. It will thus be seen that although the carriage returnclutch may be closed after displacement of the platen, such closure willonly last until a line spacing operation has ensued.

' For the fact 'that the platen frame latches 21, in a manner alreadyexplained, are maintained in operated position throughout thedisplacement of the platen, no carriage return can be instituted whilethe gage bar 44 is in extended position.

The bail rodI23 and the bell crank I21, constitute members which for thepurposes stated are equally cooperative in all positions of thecarriage.

It has hereinbefore been stated that a power return of the carriage isalways preceded by an operation of the line spacing mechanism and,particularly, that as a result of the actuation of the line spacingmechanism the counterstop BI is displaced in carriage advance directionand that the toggle link end III is consequently extended outside of thehousing 64. This, it willbe seen, blocks the bell crank {21 againstoperation and, consequently, in view of the described association of thebail with'the bell crank I21, the latches I21 are not releasable. Thismeans that the platen frame I1 and the paper gage M are locked againstdisplacement pending the termination of each instituted carriage return.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the operation of theline spacing mechanism is not suppressed by the operation of thelatches, but it is to be understood that means could be provided toblock the lever 92 against movement to closed clutch position, thuseliminating clutch closure and thus also line spacing. This, however,would require critical adjustment of the mechanism in that if the latch95 were temporarily actuated it would have to be capable of reassumingits normal relation with respect to the lever 92.

'Also, instead of blocking the toggle I III, a mechanism could beprovided to lock the carriage return key 98 against operation. Suchmechanism, however, would be more complex than the embodiment of theinvention herein illustrated.

It is further to be understood that the invention is capable ofembodiment in different machines and in many forms.

What is claimed is:

l. In a continuous billing machine having a frame and having a carriagemovable across said frame, the combination with a device on saidcarriage which is normally in an out-of-way position but which isdisplaceable to an extended position to facilitate relocation of writingmaterial relatively to transfer material, of normally ineffectivepowermoving means for the carriage,

aaaaeao means to render said power moving m ans effective, and m ansesponsiv automatically to b ock said device against displacement toanextended position whenever said power moving means is renderedeffective.

2.. In a continuous billin machine'naving a frame and havinga carriagemovable across. said frame. the com ination with a device on saidcarriage hich is normally in an outwi-way position but which isdisplaceable to. an extended Position to facilitate relocation ofwriting material relatively to transfer material, of normallyineffective power moving means for the carriage, means to render said,power moving means. effectlve, and means responsive automatically toincapacitate said ower moving means whenever said device is displaced,and responsive automatically to block said device against displacementto anextended position whenever-saidpower moving means is renderedefiective-f 3. In a. continuous billing machine, having a frame andhaving a carria e movablea ro s said frame, he combination with a deviceon sai carriage which is normally in an out-of-way position but which isdisplaceable to an extended position for relocation of writing materialrelatively to transfer material, of normally ineffective powermeans formoving said carriage, means normally operable to. render said powermeansffective for carriage movin and means respon slve; to extending movementof said device to render said operable means incapable of renderlng saidpower moving means effective, and responsive to effectuation of saidpower moving means to block said device against displacement fermaterial, and means to suppress operation of said carriage supporteddevice while said power means is effective, said suppressing meanscomprising a part on said frame, and a part on said carriage operable bysaid device, said parts being devised one for operation by the other inany position of the carriage.

5. In a continuous billing machine having a frame and having a carriagemovable across said frame, power means for moving the carriage includingnormally ineffective motor means on the frame, means on the frame torender said motor means, and therefore said power means effective, meansincluding a device on the carriage operable to facilitate relocation ofwriting material relatively to transfer material, and means to suppressoperation of said carriage supported device while said power means iseffective, and to incapacitate said frame supported motor means Whilesaid deviceis operated, said suppressing and incapacitating meanscomprising a. part on said frame, a. part on said carriage, and meansoperatively connecting said parts in any position of the carriage.

6. In a continuous billing machine having. a frame and having a carriagemovable across said frame, power means for moving the carriage includingnormally ineffective motor means on the frame, means on the frame torender said motor means, and therefore said power means effective, meansincluding a device on the carriage oper-' able to facilitate relocationof writing material relativelyto tran fer material, and. means tosnpress operationjiof said carriag supported device while said. powermeans. is effec a. and to incailacitatesaidfrarne suppo. a whilsaiddevice'is operated, sa .unnressh e. and. ncapacitating. means.comprising a. part said fram and a part. on said. carria e, one o aidparts comprising a 'bar'extending Pa allel wi f the carriage. and beingp rative v associated with the other part in any osition thecarriage.

7. a. tynewriting machine having, a. frame and having acarriage movable,in letter-feed and in return directi n on said rame; the com inationwith adevice said ca ri se'which is displac abletn an. extended.position for elocatio of worlsins.iiiaterialgr latively' to trans er"niaterielcomeans. on'the carria e operab e to, e ec spacing, normallyinefiective power m ans to operate said. operable means andto returnsaid carria e successively, means to. r nder-sa power means eifect ve,and means. conditi ne by thepowerpperation of sa d, operabl means. toblocksaicldeviceaga'ns disp acemen t ext ded position, g f

iii-In a continuousbi ling machine havin a frame-and having a carr agemo able in; lette feed and return di ectio ac oss. sa d ramaycombination masts on s id. a ri ge whic is. no mally in ano nt-of Waypos tion but w c is displaceable to an ext nded position. fo r ocationof. wr ting materi 41' relative y to trans e material,'of aline-spacingmechanism on said carriage, normally ineffective power meansadapted successively, to operate said line-spacing mechanism and toreturn the carriage, means normally operable to render said power meanseffective, and means operative while said device is extended, toincapacitate said power means with regard to carriage returning, but notwith regard to line spacing.

9. In a typewriting machine having a frame and having a carriage movableacross said frame,

a platen, means mounting said platen on said carriage for movement froma typing position to a position facilitating positioning of writingmaterial, means normally latching said platen in said typing position,operable independently of the position of the carriage to free theplaten for displacement, normally ineffective power means for moving thecarriage, means to cause said power means to impart movement to thecarriage, means, comprising means operable independently of the positionof thecarriage to render said power means incapable of impartingmovement to the carriage, and means to release said latching means andconcomitantly to operate said operable means.

10. In a typewriting machine having a frame and having a carriagemovable across said frame,

a platen, means mounting said platen on said carriage for movement froma typing position to a position facilitating positioning of writingmaterial, latching means for normally retaining said platen in saidtyping position, a paper gaging device displaceable on said carriage,normally ineffective power means for moving the carriage,

said paper gaging device being displaceable and to release said latchingmeans and substantially concomitantly to operate said operable means.

11. In a typewriting'machine having a frame and having a carriagemovable across said frame, a platm'means mounting said platen on saidcarriage for displacement from a typing position to a positionfacilitating positioning of writing material, means normally latchingsaid platen in said typing position, a paper gaging devicedisplaceable'on said frame from an out-of-way to an extended position inany position of the carriage, normally inefiective power means formoving the carriage, including an electric motor on said frame and adrive from said motor to said carriage, said drive including a normallyopen clutch on the frame, control means for said clutch to ca'use'amotor driven movement of the'car riage, means operable in any positionof the carriage to render said control means incapable of causing amotor driven movement of the carriage, and means controlled by thedisplacement of said gaging device, to release said latching means, tooperate said operable means, and to displace said platen mounting means.

12. In a typewriting machine having a frame and having a carriagemovable across said frame, a platen, a device mounted on said carriagefor movement from a normal position to a position facilitatingpositioning of writing material, latching means normally retaining saiddevice in normal position but'being movable to a released po- 'sition inany position of the carriage in order to allow displacement of thedevice; normally ineffective power means for moving the carriage, meansto render said power moving means effective for moving the carriage,means operatable by operation of said latching means independently ofthe position of the carriage, to render said power means incapable ofimparting movement to the carriage, and means to'retain said latchingmeans in operated position upon initial displacement of said device andpending restora- 13. In a continuous billing machine having a frame andhaving a carriage movable across said frame, the combination with adevice on said carriage. which is normally in anout-of-way position butwhich is displaceable to an extended position to facilitate relocationof writing material relatively to transfer material; of normallyineffective power moving means for the carriage, means to cause saidpower moving means to impart movement to the carriage, means to blocksaid device against displacement to an extended position whenever saidpower moving means is caused to impart a movement to the carriage, saidblocking means, comprising, a part on the frame and a part on thecarriage, one of said parts comprising a bar extending parallel to thecarriage and being operatively associated with the so other of saidparts in any position of the carriage.

HARRY c. YAEGER.

